Image: Barnet Council
Barnet Council has approved plans to allow ‘Play Streets’ in the borough, following a successful six-month pilot scheme which ran until August this year.
Play Streets are a resident-led initiative that involves short road closures to create a safe space where children can play freely together right on their doorsteps. Once applications are approved, they will initially run for up to two hours a month per street.
Earlier this year, Barnet launched the six-month pilot play street scheme in two locations – Leopold Road in East Finchley, and Lodge Lane in North Finchley, with residents giving overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Cllr Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “It’s great that we have been able to bring play streets to Barnet.
“Play streets allow children to play freely, and while we know Barnet is a very green borough there are areas where parks and green spaces are harder to access.
“By giving children, young people, and families an opportunity to play right in front of their homes, it creates an opportunity for them to meet and make friends with people on their street helping foster a stronger sense of community.
“As well as enabling play, physical activity, leisure, and sport opportunities at a neighbourhood level, Play Streets can also help with improving air quality and increasing active travel.”
The council will assess all applications to ensure suitability prior to approval and residents will also be able to provide any objections in advance.
Barnet says a Play Street will not be suitable for all streets – bus routes, distributor or primary roads, roads which serve industrial or commercial premises, or roads which have a junction inside the proposed closure, for example.
08 November 2023